GEORDIE COMES TO TOWN

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.

2

Date Released

Oct 1959

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1SHOWING THE WORLD
2. 2GEORDIE COMES TO TOWN
3. 3HEART OF ENGLAND

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: Geordie Browne, an 83-year-old ex-miner from Ashington, Northumberland, comes to London for the first time since the turn of the century
NCB Commentary - This is London at the turn of the century.
Nearly 60 years ago the South African War was ending, the good Queen still reigned, Mafeking had been relieved. That was when Geordie Brown, the 82 year old ex-miner we introduced in an earlier Mining Review, came from Ashington in Northumberland for his visit to the capital. And it wasn’t until the summer of 1959 that Geordie came back.
He took a London taxi and set out to enjoy himself, to renew old memories and see what had changed in the meantime.
London welcomed him with sunshine and, standing in front of the Festival Hall, Geordie consulted the map he had brought on his last visit, two world wars ago. It still showed him the right way to Trafalgar Square.
The pigeons seemed just the same to Geordie but meeting old friends is a tiring business.
A young Londoner took Geordie to see the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. Commodore Sir Eric Gill, her present Captain, welcomed Geordie aboard.
The Cutty Sark, the last of the famous slippers, was launched just 8 years before Geordie himself was born. Now she’s preserved in her original condition and has become one of the sights of London.
Then on a different ship, on one of London’s little pleasure craft, Geordie went back to town, making more friends on the way.
Next Geordie paid his respects and, as a keen amateur geologist, was respected in his turn during a visit to the Geological Survey Museum.
And then to Kew where Geordie, who is also a Botanist, spent a long full sunny day. He met Mr. Pask, a Seed Collector, in the rock garden; Mr. Pask had been a miner in South Wales for 20 years.
Before he left London, Geordie went to Hobart House and met another miner - one from nearer home - Sir James Bowman, Chairman of the National Coal Board. They had a lot to talk about for both Sir James and Geordie are Ashington men who know the same places and the same people - they both worked in the same pit. They share too, mutual interests for Sir James is a keen flower grower.
Now Geordie’s visit to London was nearly over. Having found many things changed and many things the same he went home with new and happy memories to add to so many others of a long life.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 7th September 1959.

Keywords

Horticulture; Mining; Older people; Scenery and travel

Locations

London; England

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.14 No.167 September 1960, p520.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board